Welcome to our Electrical manufacturer, UL and CPSC product safety alerts and product recalls.
Periodically, our manufacturers will send us notifications of safety alerts or product recalls. As we receive these notifications, they will be posted here and made available for PDF download. We also make available (below) live notifications from UL and the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Please feel free to contact us if you need additional information or need to confirm any product safety recall.

Recall to Repair: Whitco Company LP Stadium Light Poles Can Fall Over, Posing Risk of Serious Injury and Death

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, today announced a recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should immediately stop using recalled products until they are inspected and repaired.

Name of product: Whitco Company LP poles 70 feet tall or higher

Units: More than 2,500

Manufacturer: Whitco Company LP, of Fort Worth, Texas (which is out of business)

Hazard: The poles can fracture or crack and fall over, posing a risk of serious injury or death to patrons and bystanders from being hit or crushed. The poles range from 1 to 4 tons increasing the risk of death if the pole falls toward a crowded stadium or onto a building.

Incidents/Injuries: As of June 2010, CPSC has confirmed eleven incidents in which Whitco Co. LP poles fell. In one incident, a pole fell through the roof of a school gymnasium causing significant property damage. In two other incidents, the poles fell onto outdoor bleachers causing significant property damage. The latest incident occurred at Integrity Park Inc. in Argyle, Texas. The majority of incidents occurred in Texas with others in several other states where Whitco Co. LP poles have been installed. To date, CPSC is not aware of any injuries. However, some incidents have been close calls, with people exiting the area just minutes before a pole fell. CPSC has also identified more than 50 Whitco Co. LP poles that have not yet fallen, but inspections revealed fractures and/or cracks next to the weld that joins the pole to its base plate. The fallen and cracked poles were located near or around school football stadiums and gymnasiums.

Description: This recall to inspect and repair involves Whitco Co. LP outdoor steel stadium light poles from about 70 to 135 feet and weigh from about 1 to 4 tons. The poles are constructed of steel with a galvanized coating and were manufactured between 2000-2005.The poles can be found at facilities such as recreational parks and fields, schools and outdoor stadiums. Attached is a listing (pdf) of locations that may have the affected poles.

Note: This release does not affect Whitco Pole products.

Sold by: Lighting contractors nationwide from 2000 through 2005.

Manufactured in: United States and Mexico

Remedy: To reduce the risk of injury, Whitco Co. LP light poles should be inspected by an engineer or a Level II non-destructive testing technician immediately to identify cracking at or near the weld connecting the pole to the base plate flange. A visual examination with the naked eye or with a magnifier will not determine the extent of any cracking. Non-destructive techniques such as magnetic particle inspection, dye penetrant, or ultrasonic inspection techniques are recommended. If any cracking or fracturing is found, immediately have the affected poles repaired or replaced by a qualified professional. A design analysis to assess the stresses placed on the pole is also recommended. CPSC recommends that all outdoor steel stadium light poles be routinely inspected by a professional. As the manufacturer has become bankrupt, individual owners of the poles must arrange for inspection.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 anytime or send an e-mail to info@cpsc.gov

Upright stadium light pole


      

Fallen stadium light poles




Stadium light pole fallen through gymnasium roof

Base plate of stadium light pole

Close-up - crack near weld that joins the pole to its base plate

UL warns of ground rods with inadequate copper plating

Northbrook, Ill., USA - June 10, 2010 - Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is notifying AHJs, electrical contractors, electricians, retailers and distributors that the ground rod, identified below, may not be provided with adequate copper plating. These products display a UL Listing Mark for the U.S.; however, products were found not to comply with the UL safety requirements and are not authorized to bear the UL Mark.

Name of Product:      EN 588 52D4   Nehring NCC 588

Number of Units:          6,714 eight-foot long rods

Manufacturer:               Kopell Grounding Systems Pvt Ltd
                                286/287 G T Rd
                                North Salkia
                                Howrah WB 711106 India

Dates of Manufacture:  2009

Defect: The thickness of the copper plating for these ground rods does not comply with UL requirements.  It is unknown whether the grounding electrodes are suitable to ensure an adequate ground path.

Identification: The ground rods are 5/8 inch diameter by 8 feet long. The ground rods are marked within 12 inches of one end of the rod with the following information:

                              EN 588  52D4     Nehring NCC 588

Photos of the Ground Rod:

Distributed By: The grounding rods may have been sold at electrical distributors throughout the United States.

NORTHBROOK, Ill., May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is notifying AHJs, electrical contractors, electricians and retailers that the Electrical Metallic Tubing (EMT) products, manufactured by Guangdong Walsall Steel Pipe Industrial Co., Ltd. and identified below, may not be adequately protected against corrosion. These products display a UL Listing Mark for the U.S. and Canada; however, products purchased at retailers and distributors were found not to comply with United States or Canadian safety standards and are not authorized to bear the UL Mark.

Example Label:  Photos of the product and label are available at: http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/corporate/newsroom/publicnotices/.

About Underwriters Laboratories

UL is an independent product safety certification organization that has been testing products and writing Standards for Safety for more than a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems for more than 66,000 manufacturers annually. In total, there are more than 20 billion UL Marks appearing on products worldwide each year. UL's global family of companies and network of service providers includes 68 laboratory, testing and certification facilities serving customers in 102 countries. For more information, visit: www.ul.com

SOURCE Underwriters Laboratories

NORTHBROOK, Ill., March 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Underwriters Laboratories (UL) is notifying consumers that the underwater lighting fixtures, identified below, bear unauthorized UL Listing Marks. The fixtures are marked with the UL Mark and "E41117," however they were not produced by the UL authorized manufacturer, JULONG POOL & SPA PRODUCTS. These fixtures have not been evaluated by UL to the appropriate standards for safety and are not authorized to bear the UL Mark. It is unknown if these fixtures comply with safety requirements.

Similar underwater lighting fixtures are authorized to bear UL Marks. The differences between the unauthorized and authorized fixtures are provided below.

Name of Product: Underwater Lighting Fixture: 7810XX Series; Fixture Housing: 7821XXXX Series

Number of Units: Unknown

Manufacturer: JULONG POOL & SPA PRODUCTS (www.julong.com)

Date of Manufacture: Unknown

Date of Distribution: 2007-2009

Identification: See photos.  

Photos of the product: Photos of the Underwater Lighting Fixture are available at: http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/corporate/newsroom/publicnotices/.

Products with unauthorized UL marks: Unauthorized product is labeled with an old "American Products" brand

Marking on products with authorized UL marks: Authorized product is labeled with a current "Pentair Water Pool & Spa®" brand

About Underwriters Laboratories

UL is an independent product safety certification organization that has been testing products and writing Standards for Safety for more than a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products, components, materials and systems for more than 66,000 manufacturers. In total, there are more than 20 billion UL Marks appearing on products worldwide each year. UL's global family of companies and network of service providers includes 68 laboratory, testing and certification facilities serving customers in 102 countries. For more information, visit: http://www.ul.com/newsroom.

SOURCE Underwriters Laboratories

Outdoor Lighting Fixtures Recalled by American Electric Lighting Due to Shock Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Outdoor Lighting Fixtures

Units: About 900

Manufacturer/Distributor: American Electric Lighting, a division of Acuity Brands Lighting Inc., of Conyers, Ga.

Hazard: Improper wiring in the light fixtures poses a shock hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: This recall involves model AVL outdoor lighting fixtures sold under the American Electric Lighting brand name. The light fixtures are intended for use in parking lots, roadways, commercial environments and office communities. “AVL” is printed on the reflector of each light fixture.

Sold by: Electrical distributors and electrical sales representatives nationwide from September 2008 through September 2009 for between $250 and $800.

Manufactured in: Mexico

Remedy: Consumers should immediately disconnect power to the fixtures and contact American Electric Lighting to schedule a free inspection and repair.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact American Electric Lighting at (800) 754-0463 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.americanelectriclighting.com

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CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

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Noncontact Electrical Tester Recalled by Fluke Due to Shock or Burn Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Fluke VoltAlert® Voltage Detector

Units: About 33,000

Manufacturer: Fluke Corporation, of Everett, Wash.

Hazard: The testers can fail to give an indication of live voltage, resulting in the operator falsely believing the electrical power is off, posing a risk of serious injury or death from electrical shock or thermal burns.

Incidents/Injuries: No injuries have been reported.

Description: The Fluke voltage testers look like a pen with a yellow, white and gray body. The testers measure 90 to 1000 volts alternating current (VAC). “Fluke” and the model number are printed on the front of each unit. The recall involves Fluke 1AC-A1-I VoltAlert® tester with the following model and item numbers:

Sold at: Industrial distributors and electrical wholesalers nationwide from September 2009 through February 2010 for about $25.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled product immediately and contact Fluke for a free replacement.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Fluke toll-free at (888) 983-5853 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or visit the firm’s Web site at www.fluke.com/1AC-A1recall

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CPSC is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about it by visiting https://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/incident.aspx

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054. To join a CPSC e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information by logging on to CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

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